Stand with improved sock cymbals



May 25, 1965 R. ROSS STAND WITH IMPROVED $00K CYMBALS Filed Dec. 4, 1962 Russel Ross 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,185,014 STAND WITH IMPRGVED SUCK CYMBALS Russel Ross, R0. Box 411, Punxsatawney, Pa. Fiied Dec. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 242,152 4 Claims. (Cl. 84--422) The present invention relates to cadence setting and rhythm beating cymbals which, in ordinary usage are correctly mated for use by orchestra and band drummers.

Persons conversant with the importance and significance of the constantly recurring rhythmical beat of cymbals for whatever the occasion will recognize and endorse any innovation in cymbal-made sound effects and what is important, the cymbal or cymbals which are best suited to achieve such effects.

Cymbals are used alone where, for example, a single cymbal is mounted on a bass drum and which is responsive to the action of a foot pedal controlled beater. Cymbals are bracketed on the rim of a bass drum to be struck with a drum stick or, alternatively, a companion handleequipped cymbal. Cymbals are also used on and in conjunction with a sock-cymbal stand where pedal-operated means provides the currently used sock cymbal effect. They are also used in pairs, crash cymbals, for instance,

when marching, and in various other ways too numerous to dwell upon here.

While there is no definite pitch to cymbals which are brushed together there is nevertheless a distinct quality of tone. With this background information in mind it is to be pointed out that the instant concept pertains primarily, but not altogether, to paired cymbals one of which will be referred to as a main or primary cymbal and the other one as an auxiliary or companion cymbal.

Stated otherwise the invention pertains to a pair of companion cymbals one of which (the primary cymbal) is conventional and the other one a substitute or replacement cymbal. This novel combination is highly adaptable to a high hat or sock cymbal construction.

The commonly used or standard cymbal is circular or disk-like in form and has a central depressed portion constituting a conical cup. In the instant advance in the art two properly mated or matched cymbals are used. The main or primary cymbal will remain unchanged in this improved combination and will preferably be a high grade Turkish or an equivalent bronze cymbal. The auxiliary dummy cymbal is specially made and constitutes a substitute for and replaces what would ordinarily be a con ventionally made second cymbal.

The invention lends itself to practical use where two cymbals are used to strike or rub against each other. More particularly, the invention pertains to a pair of suitably mated cymbals for use on a stand having pedal-operating means and commonly referred to as a sock cymbal. The improved cymbal, that is, the auxiliary one (which can be either upper or lower) is preferably, but not necessarily, substituted for the lower cymbal of a regular pair.

The improved paired cymbals combination herein revealed is advantageous in that the substitute or replacement cymbal is easier and faster to manufacture and is more economical to produce than the regular Turkish or equivalent standard type which it replaces.

Experience has shown that the use of cymbals paired in the manner herein disclosed prevents an undesirable cupped sound which one usually gets in a two cymbal arrangement where the cymbals do not strike in intended oriented relationship. With the herein disclosed improved cymbal combination, the result here achieved is a clear crisp sound and an accompanying ringing sound effect which is significantly unique.

It will be further noted that the improved combination of cymbals here offered for use is original in that the auxice iliary cymbal is light in weight, making it easier to use and less tiring to the musician using it. Inasmuch as the general shape and in plan contour is likened to the stand ard or main cymbal it may be stored and handled with customary ease.

Briefly the invention resides in a pair of similarly diametered cymbals. One of the cymbals, the primary one, is of standardized form comparable, as it were, to a high grade Turkish or Chinese cymbal. The companion cymbal, the one (either upper or lower) which constitutes an essential improvement here, provides What is in effect a relatively stationary anvil against which the primary movable cymbal is clapped, pounded, brushed, or otherwise struck in keeping with the requirements of the drummer.

By attaching a handle (not shown) to the center of the substitute cymbal it can then be used to replace the hand operated cymbal in a situation Where the stationary cymbal is firmly attached to the rim of a bass drum and the drummer has to use both hands, one hand to play the base drum and the other to play the cymbal at the same time. Because it is light in weight, its use-even for reasonably long periods-will be noticeably less tiring for the drummer.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the novel cymbal combination wherein the two cymbals are installed for use atop a so-called high hat or sock cymbal stand;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the auxiliary or substitute cymbal, that is one embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a view showing the upper end portion of the stand on a slightly enlarged scale with the substitute anvil-type cymbal attached thereto and broken away and appearing in section and elevation;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation of a portion of the improved cymbal illustrating a slight modification in cross-sectional form and a springbiased support for the slidable hub;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of a third modified form of substitute or auxiliary cymbal; and

FIGURE 6 is a final modification showing how the marginal rim may be supported by spring-type yieldable spokes instead of rigid spokes.

Reference will be made first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. With particular reference to FIG. 1 the stand, which is a common support structure, is denoted by the numeral 8, the same having a bottom cylinder 19 and a tripodal base 12 having pivoted folding legs 14 .and brace means 16. The upper vertically extensible or adjustable part of the upright of the stand is denoted at 18 and as is usually the case said upper end is smooth and flanged at 20 to provide a stop shoulder as stressed in FIG. 3. The customary foot pedal is denoted by the numeral 22 and it functions to operate the vertically movable cymbal rod 24. The upper portion 26 of the rod has one of the two cymbals suitably mounted (not detailed) thereon, This cymbal is the upper or main cymbal and it is denoted by the numeral 27 and has a peripheral or rim portion 28 and a conical cupped hub portion 39 apertured to permit passage therethroughof the operating rod as at 32 and having a collar. 34 for association with assembling nut means 36 for removably mounting the cymbal in place. Thus and so far the description refers to the aforementioned sock cymbal stand with the regular cymbal 27 removably mounted atop the operating rod 26 thereof.

The substitute, the anvil-type cymbal here, is denoted generally by the numeral 38. Manifestly this novel cymbal may vary in construction and in several of the embodiments illustrated it is of an openwork or skeleton form and is made of component members, such as rod, bar or equivalent stock (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6) and embodies an annular ring or rim 46 joined by circumferentially spaced equidistant radial spokes 42 to a collar 44 provided with a central smooth-bored hole 46 (screw-threaded if and when desired) and resting removably atop the felt washer 21, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

Thus the spokes (either bowed or straight) are connected at their outer ends as at 48 to the rim 4% and then slope downwardly and inwardly and, connected with the collar 44, serve to provide the desired dished but nevertheless openwork construction. Then, too, the rigid rim or ring 40, either endless or made up of circumferentially spaced segments is the anvil or surface against which the marginal portion 28 of the movable cymbal 27 is intermittently struck. The cymbal 38 may be made of metal (brass, steel or, for that matter, moldable commercial plastics). It is circular in construction and has the radial, usually three, spoke-like braces. The diameter of the outer perimeter of the rim 40 will depend upon the diameter of the cymbal 27 with which it is to be used. The diameter can be equal to, smaller than or larger than the diameter of the primary cymbal 27 The outer rim portion 40 may be a rod which is circular in cross-section as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively (see the modification in FIG. 4) this ring or rim 40A may be non-circular (rectangular or the equivalent) in crosssection. In this modification the cymbal is denoted at 38A and the spokes at 42A and the collar at 44A. In this adaptation the free sliding collar rests and is yieldingly supported atop a coiled cushioning spring 21A, the latter surrounding the end portion 46A and being supported by the stop flange A. The spring yields to obtain the desired spring-biased effect.

If one ascertains after experimental use that the skeleton-type or frame-like cymbal 38 fails to give the desired responsiveness and sock cymbal effect it might then be advisable to switch over to and use the modified form depicted in FIG. 5. Here the auxiliary cymbal shown is denoted by the numeral 50. This embodiment comprises a bronze or sheet metal cymbal having a conical or cupped body portion 52 with a central opening equipped with an integral collar 54 provided with a smooth bore (or screw-threaded hole) 56 and providing what is in effect an attaching nut for the upper end 47 (FIG. 3) if and when it is threaded. Here the outer marginal edge portion is denoted at 53 and the openwork effect is had by providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes or openings. These holes are denoted at 60, 62 and 64 and may be of varying geometrical shapes or form.

The marginal rim or ring can be constructed from material made in the shape of a coil spring (fiat, undulated, core type or circular in cross-section) flanged ring, rod or rod encased in a coil spring, or in any flat or rectangular form in a complete circle (broken circle) or segment thereof. Rivets, chains, washers, small cymbal-like discs, tambourine jingles (not detailed) could also be attached to the rim or attached to the spokes for special jingle-bell and festive effects.

It will be clear therefore that the rim will vary in construction and form. This is also true of the spokes which support the rim in a generally elevated position in a plane above the hub-like mounting collar. Take for example, the modification seen in FIG. 6 wherein it will be noted that the ring or rim 66 (which may be endless in form or not) is perched atop the outer upper ends of the radial support members or spokes. Here these spokes are denoted at 68 and instead of being rigid they are longitudinally bowed or otherwise curved and each spoke is in the form of a suitably constructed coil spring 70 the inner end of which is attached to the attaching and mounting hub or collar '72.

This invention is susceptible of acceptable use in any situation where two cymbalsone a dummyare used to strike against each other. One merely has to substitute the improved cymbal for one of the regular cymbals.

it is believed that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter of the invention, the features and advantages, mode of use and improved result which is assured the user. Therefore, a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use by a percussionist, a trap drummer, for example, cadence setting and rhythm beating means comprising upper and lower paired cymbals similarly diametered and structurally matched, related and structurally connected for companion use, one of said cymbals, either upper or lower, constituting a primary cymbal and having a hub portion and the other a companion cymbal, either upper or lower, constituting a secondary cymbal and providing an anvil against which the marginal edge of the primary cymbal is adapted to be clapped, pounded, or otherwise impacted, said primary cymbal being made of highly sensitive vibratory sheet material, said secondary cymbal constituting a dummy cymbal, being adapted to be substituted, when it is being used, for a standard cymbal, being made of material without particular regard to inherent vibratory characteristics, whereby said primary cymbal, if as usual, of Turkish quality, will produce cymbal sound effects comparably equal to a matched pair of cymbals which are both made of corresponding vibratory material and properties.

2. The combination of cymbals according to claim 1, and wherein the body of said primary cymbal is imperforate and said secondary cymbal has a body of openwork form, whereby to prevent an undesirable mufiled or cuppy sound effect such as attends the use of two standard conical-cup sheet material cymbals.

3. The combination of claim 1, and wherein said secondary cymbal embodies an apertured and dished body portion and a rigid marginal edge portion, the dished portion having apertures sufliciently large to diminish the likelihood of an undesirable cupped sound effect.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and wherein said secondary cymbal is of openwork skeleton-like form and embodies rim means, an axial collar-like attaching and retaining member and circumferentially spaced radial spokes rigidly connected at inner ends to said member and at outer ends to said rim means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 516,612 3/94 Rappold 84422 1,563,791 12/25 Richardson 77 1,710,058 4/29 Jernberg 30164 2,484,936 10/49 Dezso 84422 2,581,515 1/52 Christian 84422 2,893,283 7/59 Ippolito 84- 411 3,009,379 11/61 Thomas 84-402 FOREIGN PATENTS 165,677 12/58 Sweden.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Examiner. 

1. FOR USE BY A PERCUSSIONIST, A TRAP DRUMMER, FOR EXAMPLE, CADENCE SETTING AND RHYTHM BEATING MEANS COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER PAIRED CYMBALS SIMILARLY DIAMETERED AND STRUCTUALLY MATCHED, RELATED AND STRUCTURALLY CONNECTED FOR COMPANION USE, ONE OF SAID CYMBALS, EITHER UPPER OR LOWER, CONSTITUTING A PRIMARY CYMBAL AND HAVING A HUB PORTION AND THE OTHER A COMPANION CYMBAL, EITHER UPPER OR LOWER, CONSTITUTING A SECONDARY CYMBAL AND PROVIDING AN ANVIL AGAINST WHICH THE MARGINAL EDGE OF THE PRIMARY CYMBAL IS ADAPTED TO BE CLAPPED, POUNDED, OR OTHERWISE IMPACTED, SAID PRIMARY CYMBAL BEING MADE OF HIGHLY SENSITIVE VIBRATORY SHEET MATERIAL, SAID SECONDARY CYMBAL CONSTITUTING A DUMMY CYMBAL, BEING ADAPTED TO BE SUBSTITUTED, WHEN IT IS BEING USED, FOR A STANDARD CYMBAL, BEING MADE OF MATERIAL WITHOUT PARTICULAR REGARD TO INHERENT VIBRATORY CHARACTERISTICS, WHEREBY SAID PRIMARY CYMBAL, IF AS USUAL, OF TURKISH QUALITY, WILL PRODUCE CYMBAL SOUND EFFECTS COMPARABLY EQUAL TO A MATCHED PAIR OF CYMBALS WHICH ARE BOTH MADE OF CORRESPONDING VIBRATORY MATERIAL AND PROPERTIES. 